Adam Lambert always puts on an amazing show, whether he’s performing with the legendary band Queen or singing his own songs. One of his most special performances happened on the streets of Melbourne, Australia, where he sang his hit song “Whataya Want from Me.” But this time, he didn’t sing it like the original rock version—he performed it as a beautiful piano ballad with just one pianist playing alongside him.
Even though the original version is full of energy and excitement, hearing it with just the piano makes it feel like the song was always meant to be that way. The simple arrangement lets Lambert’s incredible voice shine, and the lyrics feel even more emotional. At The Music Man, we’re big fans of Adam Lambert, and moments like this show why so many people love his music.
A YouTuber named Rainscapes shared a video of this special street performance on August 26, 2012. The performance was part of Channel V’s Guerilla Gig series, where artists surprise fans by performing in unexpected places. “Whataya Want from Me” was first released as a single on November 20, 2009, and it quickly became one of Lambert’s biggest hits in Australia, reaching number four on the charts. No wonder he chose to sing it for the Melbourne crowd!
Fans love hearing Lambert perform this song live. He even sang it during his Live from YouTube Space concert in New York City, but that time, he performed it with a full three-piece rock band. People were thrilled and left comments online like, “I love how he sounds just as good live as in the studio!” and “He’s a vocal beast! And this song never gets old.”
“Whataya Want from Me” was written by famous songwriter Max Martin, pop star Pink (yes, the Pink you know and love!), and Karl Schuster. Pink originally wrote and recorded the song for her 2008 album Funhouse, but it didn’t make the final tracklist. Later, Lambert took the song, gave it his own style, and released it in 2009 as the second single from his debut album, For Your Entertainment.
If you remember, For Your Entertainment was Lambert’s biggest album, and a big reason for its success was the hit song “Whataya Want from Me.” Over the years, Lambert has performed the song in many different ways, including an acoustic version during his first tour in 2010.
“Whataya Want from Me” has become a fan favorite and an important part of Lambert’s concerts. In fact, according to Setlist.fm, he has performed it live an incredible 287 times—more than any other song in his solo shows!
What do you think about Adam Lambert’s performances? Let us know in the comments below!
